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Radiochemical characterization and decontamination of rare-earth-element concentrate recovered from uranium leach liquors

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Abstract

The paper deals with two rare earth elements (REE) concentrates recovered from uranium leach liquors after sorption separation of uranium. Activity of the REE concentrates was found to be 106 Bq kg−1; Ac-227 and its short-lived daughter products were the main radioactive impurities contributing more than 99% of total activity. Activity of both U-238 + Th-232 in the REE concentrates did not exceed 0.2% of total activity. Extraction by 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-(2-ethylhexyl) ester (P-507 extractant) in Shelsol D90 diluent was suggested for REE deactivation. It was shown that thorium may be eliminated by extraction in strong acidic media (pH − 0.5 to − 1), whereas radium extraction was suppressed over the whole studied pH range. Further REE separation to heavy and light groups at pH 1 resulted in selective concentration of actinium in light REE group. The suggested separation flowsheet was tested on the real REE concentrate. It was shown that obtaining non-radioactive fraction of heavy REE is possible.

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Acknowledgements

The study was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of subsidizing agreement of September 26, 2017 (No. 14.575.21.0137, unique agreement identifier RFMEFI57517X0137) of the Federal Target Program “Research and development in priority directions of the progress of the scientific and technological complex of Russia for the years 2014–2020.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rare Metals and Nanomaterials, Ural Federal University, 19, Mira Street, Ekaterinburg, Russia, 620002

    Vladimir N. Rychkov, Evgeny V. Kirillov, Sergey V. Kirillov, Denis V. Smyshlyaev, Grigory M. Bunkov & Maxim S. Botalov

  2. Department of Radiochemistry and Applied Ecology, Ural Federal University, 19, Mira Street, Ekaterinburg, Russia, 620002

    Vladimir S. Semenishchev & Viktoria G. Ryabukhina

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  1. Vladimir N. Rychkov
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  2. Vladimir S. Semenishchev
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  3. Evgeny V. Kirillov
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  4. Sergey V. Kirillov
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  6. Denis V. Smyshlyaev
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  7. Grigory M. Bunkov
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  8. Maxim S. Botalov
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Correspondence to Vladimir S. Semenishchev.

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Rychkov, V.N., Semenishchev, V.S., Kirillov, E.V. et al. Radiochemical characterization and decontamination of rare-earth-element concentrate recovered from uranium leach liquors. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 317, 203–213 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5845-x

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